The New York Jets seem destined to make the 2024 NFL Playoffs, but one analyst cut their destiny short in her recent string of bold predictions for next season.
NFL analyst doesn’t see the Jets making a deep postseason run
NFL.com’s Judy Battista has the Jets losing in the Divisional Round despite winning the AFC East, saying this in part:
“Even if they win the AFC East — I’m not ruling that out — the Jets are unlikely to have the best record in the conference to get the first-round bye because their schedule does them no favors, with four short-week games, a trip to London and a bye that doesn’t come until Week 12. Plus, they play some of the league’s best defenses — including in the opener against San Francisco. Could the Jets make a run to the Super Bowl? Yes. But they would need some breaks along the way, and probably some help knocking out some of their elite AFC competition,” Battista wrote.
Jets: Five contenders could threaten their potential 2024 NFL playoff run
The Jets have not made the playoffs since 2010, marking the league’s longest playoff drought. Superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be returning from a torn Achilles with a revamped cast of characters on both sides of the football. They have the explosion in every facet of the game to wage a strong run through the regular season. The Jets do have a challenging schedule as Battista alluded to, including six primetime games within their first 10 contests.
New York will have the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs standing in their way of making the Super Bowl. The Chiefs’ utter dominance in the Patrick Mahomes era goes without saying, but other teams may also have a leg up over the Jets.
There are four other franchises that will have the Jets on high alert. In the AFC North, the Cincinnati Bengals have QB Joe Burrow returning from a calf and wrist injury. When last seen at full strength, the Bengals made the Super Bowl for the 2022 season. The Baltimore Ravens will also be major players behind the most dynamic rushing attack in NFL history consisting of reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry.
In their own backyard, the Jets’ biggest threat is the Miami Dolphins. The AFC East powerhouse offense led the NFL in a bevy of categories in 2023 including rushing yards per carry (5.1) and Rush TDs (27). Outside of it, the Houston Texans are primed to improve from their 10-7 record from a year ago with the addition of superstar wide receiver Stefon Diggs to C.J. Stroud’s arsenal of options in the passing game.
Jets’ playoff drought could get snapped and end with a Super Bowl win in 2024
The Jets have the talent to down all of those teams in any given playoff game. Time will tell if they can do so in two or three consecutive games to reach the Super Bowl against one of the elite squads in the NFC, one of which could be the 49ers, whose well-oiled machine has carried them to the NFC championship game in four of the last five years.
New York has a good balance of veterans and young talents to carry them through the playoffs even if they don’t earn a first-round bye. However, anything can happen come postseason time.